Freshwater Drum Fishing Guide: 99 Lakes by Water Quality

Freshwater Drum is a rough-fish species — typically common in productive, nutrient-rich lakes, sometimes treated as a management nuisance by anglers targeting game-fish. 99 lakes carry documentation. Freshwater Drum is narrowly distributed — only 98 lakes in Minnesota and 1 in Michigan have a documented record. The constraint is usually habitat: cold water, specific depth profile, or river connection.

Rough-fish-dominant lakes are worth checking the phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings on: a rough-fish-heavy fishery often reflects an underlying nutrient-loading problem in the watershed. Cross-reference the Freshwater Drum lake list below against each lake's clarity, phosphorus and algae readings: lakes with low nutrient readings and Freshwater Drum documented are the best places to start for recreational targeting.

Total Lakes

Minnesota lakes →

Michigan lakes →

31 ft

Avg. Depth

Best Freshwater Drum Lakes by Water Quality

Top 50 lakes with freshwater drum, ranked on nutrient and algae readings.

Rank	Lake	County	State	Depth	Species
1	Pelican Lake	Otter Tail	MN	55 ft	20
2	Chippewa Lake	Douglas	MN	95 ft	19
3	Lida Lake	Otter Tail	MN	58 ft	20
4	Florida Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	40 ft	18
5	Eagle Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	67 ft	17
6	Lizzie Lake	Otter Tail	MN	66 ft	21
7	Andrew Lake	Douglas	MN	83 ft	18
8	Minnewaska Lake	Pope	MN	32 ft	21
9	Lake St Croix	Pierce	MN	78 ft	36
10	Medicine Lake	Beltrami	MN	44 ft	12
11	Pool	Washington	MN	78 ft	36
12	Maple Lake	Polk	MN	14 ft	12
13	Little Pine Lake	Otter Tail	MN	63 ft	20
14	Big Pine Lake	Otter Tail	MN	76 ft	20
15	Blackduck Lake	Beltrami	MN	28 ft	16
16	Waconia Lake	Carver	MN	37 ft	16
17	Pool of Lake St Croix	Washington	MN	78 ft	36
18	Games Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	42 ft	15
19	Roemhildts Lake	Le Sueur	MN	60 ft	13
20	Upper Estuary Lake	St. Louis	MN	55 ft	33
21	Lower Hamlin Lake	Mason	MI	-	11
22	Pelican Lake	Pope	MN	34 ft	18
23	Round Lake	Jackson	MN	9 ft	17
24	Long Lake	Watonwan	MN	13 ft	13
25	Ballantyne Lake	Blue Earth	MN	58 ft	16
26	Zumbro Lake	Olmsted	MN	43 ft	24
27	Volney Lake	Le Sueur	MN	67 ft	12
28	Emily Lake	Pope	MN	6 ft	26
29	Foot Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	24 ft	15
30	South Long Lake	Ramsey	MN	30 ft	12
31	Willmar Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	14 ft	18
32	Wood Lake	Yellow Medicine	MN	9 ft	11
33	Upper Red Lake	Beltrami	MN	15 ft	15
34	Frances Lake	Le Sueur	MN	60 ft	16
35	Little Spirit Lake	Jackson	MN	8 ft	23
36	Madison Lake	Blue Earth	MN	59 ft	20
37	Okabena Lake	Nobles	MN	16 ft	18
38	Kansas Lake	Watonwan	MN	7 ft	14
39	High Island Lake	Sibley	MN	6.5 ft	11
40	Mud Lake	Martin	MN	19 ft	17
41	Tetonka Lake	Le Sueur	MN	35 ft	19
42	Clear Lake	Jackson	MN	9 ft	15
43	Clear Lake	Le Sueur	MN	18 ft	11
44	Washington Lake	Le Sueur	MN	51 ft	18
45	Norway Lake	Kandiyohi	MN	42 ft	15
46	Roberds Lake	Rice	MN	43 ft	18
47	Cedar Lake	Rice	MN	42 ft	18
48	Pokegama Lake	Pine	MN	25 ft	23
49	George Lake	Martin	MN	11 ft	15
50	Hall Lake	Martin	MN	27 ft	19

Showing top 50 of 99 lakes with freshwater drum.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have freshwater drum?

Freshwater Drum are documented in 99 lakes: 98 in Minnesota, 1 in Michigan.

What are the best lakes for freshwater drum?

The best freshwater drum lakes by water quality are Pelican Lake, Chippewa Lake, Lida Lake, Florida Lake, Eagle Lake. These lakes carry the lowest nutrient and algae readings among all lakes where freshwater drum have been documented by state DNR surveys.

What other fish are found with freshwater drum?

Freshwater Drum are most commonly found alongside freshwater drum, black crappie, yellow perch, common carp, walleye. These species share similar habitat preferences in the region's lakes.

Other Fish Species in Freshwater Drum Lakes

Black Crappie Lakes

Found together in 97 lakes · 1,386 total

Yellow Perch Lakes

Found together in 95 lakes · 1,577 total

Common Carp Lakes

Found together in 94 lakes · 487 total

Walleye Lakes

Found together in 93 lakes · 1,884 total

Northern Pike Lakes

Found together in 92 lakes · 2,386 total

Bluegill Lakes

Found together in 91 lakes · 1,550 total

Fish species from state agency survey, stocking, and public fishing-access records; water-quality readings from the EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys. Species profiles are general reference; always check current state regulations before fishing.